Scotland: swimming pool takes centre stage in cinema vision

A disused swimming pool in Montrose is to become the unlikely home for a three-screen cinema and community hub – following a successful funding application.

The old Montrose swimming poolThe Montrose Playhouse Project secured £2.26m in funding from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund towards the £3.26m capital costs, enabling a start on site to be made this June.

Designed to be as inclusive as possible the cinema will offer wheelchair spaces, braille signage, induction loops and an adapted changing room for people with complex care needs. Combined with a befriending programme and work with people with degenerative conditions it is hoped this can reduce social isolation.

Fully retractable seating in one auditorium and a small stage in another will maximise flexibility of the new facility, with a complementary café/bar, activity rooms, shop and exhibition space adding to the range of attractions on offer.

Project chair David Paton, of John D Crawford, said: “The Playhouse has always been and will always remain a facility ‘for the community, by the community.’ The possibilities are endless and we hope to grow and develop our social programmes over the coming years in partnership with other local community groups. The whole team are beyond excited about the benefits this facility is going to bring to the community and to the town centre in general.”

It is hoped the curtain can rise on the cinema transformation by the middle of 2020.